Former Ondo State First Lady, Betty Akeredolu, has expressed concern over the increasing tribal divide in Nigeria’s national political discussions, clarifying that she had ventured into politics before her late husband foray into the political arena.
Her comments came in response to a post she made on social media about the 2023 Nigerian presidential election and the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential race, which sparked criticism from some netizens.
In her post on X (formerly Twitter), Akeredolu compared the efficiency of vote counting between the two countries.
She noted that while it took five days to count 25 million votes in Nigeria’s 2023 election, the U.S. was able to count 155 million votes in just 10 hours during its recent election.
She pointed out that dishonesty within Nigeria’s electoral system was making even simple tasks more difficult.
Her post drew backlash from some social media users, with many accusing her and her late husband, former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, of benefiting from Nigeria’s corrupt political system. Others suggested her comments were motivated by the fact that an Igbo candidate did not win the 2023 election.
Akeredolu responded by expressing regret that the national discourse on electoral reform had devolved into tribal attacks. She lamented that instead of engaging in a constructive discussion about the country’s electoral flaws, Nigerians had turned the conversation into a tribal conflict. She emphasized that the issue raised was an attempt to encourage debate on improving the electoral system, and criticized those who reduced it to a matter of ethnic rivalry.
She also questioned whether the outcome of the 2023 election, which favored certain individuals or groups, truly represented the best option for Nigeria. Akeredolu lamented that the discussion had been hijacked by divisive rhetoric and tribal insults, further deepening the country’s political divides.
In addition, Akeredolu addressed misconceptions about her own political history. She clarified that she had been politically active long before her husband entered politics, noting that she had run for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2007 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party, during a time marked by political turbulence. She stressed that her role in Ondo State politics was to provide support to her husband, whose legacy she believes is visible in the state’s development.
“Honestly, this issue raised is topical aiming to agitate like minds to discuss and find solution to our electoral misdeeds. Everybody in the political space including the electorate, is involved in the electoral malfeasance.
“If 2023 election presidential benefitted you as an individual or group, was that the best Nigeria could offer? Alas, they turned it into a tribal war of words. Nigeria is irredeemable! So sad!
I have been in politics since 2007, way before my husband even thought about it. I contested under ANPP to represent Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Rep in 2007. It was OBJ (former president Olusegun Obasanjo) “do or die” era, so there was no election!
“My involvement in Ondo State politics was only to provide spousal support to my husband to succeed given that my political experience is indisputable! Believe it or not, Aketi’s legacy in Ondo State is there for even the blind to see and bigoted to feel,” the Ondo former first lady added.
